Viewership for the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown increased by nearly 50% on NBC.
Saturday’s race portion of the 2011 Belmont Stakes earned a 4.3 final rating and 6.8 million viewers on NBC, up 43% in ratings and 44% in viewership from last year (3.0, 4.735M, ABC), and down 2% and up 2%, respectively, compared to 2009 (4.4, 6.640M, ABC).
Keep in mind last year’s Belmont Stakes was the lowest rated since at least 1995.
Excluding years in which there was the possibility of a Triple Crown winner, this year’s race ranks as the most-viewed since 2005 (7.712M). Incidentally, the 2005 race was the last edition of the Belmont Stakes to air on NBC before this year.
Ratings/Viewership For Race Portion of The Belmont Stakes
Since NBC First Acquired Rights in 2001
|
Year
|
Date
|
Winner
|
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011
|
Sat., 6/11/11 | Ruler on Ice | NBC |
4.3
|
6,800
|
|
2010
|
Sat., 6/5/11 | Drosselmeyer | ABC |
3.0
|
4,735
|
|
2009
|
Sat., 6/6/09 | Summer Bird | ABC |
4.4
|
6,640
|
|
2008
|
Sat., 6/7/08 | Da’Tara | ABC |
8.2
|
13,096
|
|
2007
|
Sat., 6/9/07 | Rags to Riches | ABC |
3.2
|
4,861
|
|
2006
|
Sat., 6/10/06 | Jazil | ABC |
3.5
|
5,044
|
|
2005
|
Sat., 6/11/05 | Afleet Alex | NBC |
5.4
|
7,712
|
|
2004
|
Sat., 6/5/04 | Birdstone | NBC |
13.1
|
21,889
|
|
2003
|
Sat., 6/7/03 | Empire Maker | NBC |
10.7
|
15,703
|
|
2002
|
Sat., 6/8/02 | Sarava | NBC |
8.4
|
12,410
|
|
2001
|
Sat., 6/9/01 | Point Given | NBC |
4.9
|
6,804
|
(This year?s numbers from NBC Sports Group via TV By the Numbers; 2002-10 ratings/viewership from Media Life Magazine; 2001 ratings/viewership from Sports Business Daily)
